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Special Issue "Innovative Drug Release and Vaccine Delivery Systems"

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A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2023 | Viewed by 4724

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Bogdan

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Craiova, Romania
Interests: inflammation; anti-inflammatory drugs; depression; antidepressant drugs; biomarkers; drug delivery systems; in vivo animal models
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Dr. Liliana Mititelu-Tartau

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Algesiology, "Grigore T Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Interests: nanoparticles; drug delivery systems; polymers; in vitro studies; in vivo investigation; animal models; pain; inflammation; neuropsychopharmacology; behavior
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue entitled “Innovative Drug Release and Vaccine Delivery Systems”, which aims to highlight recent advances in the field. Drug delivery research is a multidisciplinary effort ranging from basic science to clinical trials, aiming to develop advanced therapies for acute and chronic illnesses. Different approaches have been taken to improve drugs’ pharmacological profile, and to provide targeted and increased bioavailability. In addition, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, as well as various biocompatible polymers, have gained attention in recent decades. We invite researchers to provide original research articles, as well as review articles, focusing on multiple issues about the design of original drug release and vaccine delivery systems, possibly revealing novel design technologies and biomaterials for drug delivery, including their obtainment, characterization, structure, original aspects, advantages, disadvantages, and various medical applications.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Maria Bogdan
Prof. Dr. Liliana Mititelu-Tartau
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biomaterials
biocompatible polymers
biocompatibility evaluation
drug delivery
vaccines
nanoparticles
structure–property relationship
bio-hybrid
in vitro and in vivo studies
medical applications of biomaterials

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Modified Linear Peptides Effectively Silence STAT-3 in Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines

and

Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(2), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020666 - 16 Feb 2023

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Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) has drawn enormous attention as a powerful tool because of its capability to interfere with mRNA and protein production. However, designing a safe and efficient delivery system in RNAi therapeutics remains challenging. Herein, we have designed and synthesized several linear peptides containing tryptophan (W) and arginine (R) residues separated by the β-alanine (βA) spacer and attached to a lipophilic fatty acyl chain, cholesterol, or PEG. The peptide backbone sequences were: Ac-C-βA-βA-W₄-βA-βA-R₄-CO-NH₂ and Ac-K-βA-βA-W₄-βA-βA-R₄-CO-NH₂, with only a difference in N-terminal amino acid. The cysteine side chain in the first sequence was used for the conjugation with PEG2000 and PEG550. Alternatively, the side chain of lysine in the second sequence was used for conjugation with cholesterol or oleic acid. We hypothesized that amphiphilic peptides and optimum fatty acyl chain or PEG could function as an effective siRNA carrier by complementing each structural component’s self-assembly and membrane internalization properties. None of the designed peptides showed cytotoxicity up to 10 µM. Serum stability studies suggested that the newly designed peptides efficiently protected siRNA against early degradation by nucleases. Flow cytometry analysis indicated 50–90% cellular uptake of siRNA using the newly developed modified linear peptides (MLPs). Western blot results revealed more than 90% protein downregulation after targeting STAT3 in MDA-MB-231 and SKOV-3 cell lines. In summary, a new peptide class was developed to safely and efficiently deliver siRNA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Drug Release and Vaccine Delivery Systems)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Ginkgo Biloba and Long COVID: In Vivo and In Vitro Models for the Evaluation of Nanotherapeutic Efficacy

Thelma Akanchise

and

Angelina Angelova

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(5), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051562 - 22 May 2023

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Abstract

Coronavirus infections are neuroinvasive and can provoke injury to the central nervous system (CNS) and long-term illness consequences. They may be associated with inflammatory processes due to cellular oxidative stress and an imbalanced antioxidant system. The ability of phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, such as Ginkgo biloba, to alleviate neurological complications and brain tissue damage has attracted strong ongoing interest in the neurotherapeutic management of long COVID. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (EGb) contains several bioactive ingredients, e.g., bilobalide, quercetin, ginkgolides A–C, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, and luteolin. They have various pharmacological and medicinal effects, including memory and cognitive improvement. Ginkgo biloba, through its anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, impacts cognitive function and other illness conditions like those in long COVID. While preclinical research on the antioxidant therapies for neuroprotection has shown promising results, clinical translation remains slow due to several challenges (e.g., low drug bioavailability, limited half-life, instability, restricted delivery to target tissues, and poor antioxidant capacity). This review emphasizes the advantages of nanotherapies using nanoparticle drug delivery approaches to overcome these challenges. Various experimental techniques shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the oxidative stress response in the nervous system and help comprehend the pathophysiology of the neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. To develop novel therapeutic agents and drug delivery systems, several methods for mimicking oxidative stress conditions have been used (e.g., lipid peroxidation products, mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors, and models of ischemic brain damage). We hypothesize the beneficial effects of EGb in the neurotherapeutic management of long-term COVID-19 symptoms, evaluated using either in vitro cellular or in vivo animal models of oxidative stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Drug Release and Vaccine Delivery Systems)

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Open AccessReview

Layer-by-Layer Nanoassemblies for Vaccination Purposes

Eduardo Guzmán

Francisco Ortega

and

Ramón G. Rubio

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(5), 1449; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051449 - 10 May 2023

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Abstract

In recent years, the availability of effective vaccines has become a public health challenge due to the proliferation of different pandemic outbreaks which are a risk for the world population health. Therefore, the manufacturing of new formulations providing a robust immune response against specific diseases is of paramount importance. This can be partially faced by introducing vaccination systems based on nanostructured materials, and in particular, nanoassemblies obtained by the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) method. This has emerged, in recent years, as a very promising alternative for the design and optimization of effective vaccination platforms. In particular, the versatility and modularity of the LbL method provide very powerful tools for fabricating functional materials, opening new avenues on the design of different biomedical tools, including very specific vaccination platforms. Moreover, the possibility to control the shape, size, and chemical composition of the supramolecular nanoassemblies obtained by the LbL method offers new opportunities for manufacturing materials which can be administered following specific routes and present very specific targeting. Thus, it will be possible to increase the patient convenience and the efficacy of the vaccination programs. This review presents a general overview on the state of the art of the fabrication of vaccination platforms based on LbL materials, trying to highlight some important advantages offered by these systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Drug Release and Vaccine Delivery Systems)

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Open AccessReview

Cocrystals by Design: A Rational Coformer Selection Approach for Tackling the API Problems

Maan Singh

Harsh Barua

Vaskuri G. S. Sainaga Jyothi

Madhukiran R. Dhondale

and

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(4), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041161 - 06 Apr 2023

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Abstract

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) with unfavorable physicochemical properties and stability present a significant challenge during their processing into final dosage forms. Cocrystallization of such APIs with suitable coformers is an efficient approach to mitigate the solubility and stability concerns. A considerable number of cocrystal-based products are currently being marketed and show an upward trend. However, to improve the API properties by cocrystallization, coformer selection plays a paramount role. Selection of suitable coformers not only improves the drug’s physicochemical properties but also improves the therapeutic effectiveness and reduces side effects. Numerous coformers have been used till date to prepare pharmaceutically acceptable cocrystals. The carboxylic acid-based coformers, such as fumaric acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid, are the most commonly used coformers in the currently marketed cocrystal-based products. Carboxylic acid-based coformers are capable of forming the hydrogen bond and contain smaller carbon chain with the APIs. This review summarizes the role of coformers in improving the physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties of APIs, and deeply explains the utility of afore-mentioned coformers in API cocrystal formation. The review concludes with a brief discussion on the patentability and regulatory issues related to pharmaceutical cocrystals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Drug Release and Vaccine Delivery Systems)

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Special Issue "Innovative Drug Release and Vaccine Delivery Systems"

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